Top Ten Reasons to Be Scared
Fear is a funny thing. We claim to not enjoy being scared yet as scary things seduce. Dark places hold a thousand possibilities for harm as do nighttime noises. The unexplained and the unknown immediately set us on edge, creating a level of apprehension. Creepy crawly things, shadows that are there and then gone, and anything dead toss our rational selves away and usher in the timid victim expecting the worst. These fears are what drives our Halloween List for 2017. In honor of the holiday, and the need to test trouble, we are offering ten tracks though there is no need to be afraid….they are only songs….or are they?
Fear is a funny thing. We claim to not enjoy being scared yet as scary things seduce. Dark places hold a thousand possibilities for harm as do nighttime noises. The unexplained and the unknown immediately set us on edge, creating a level of apprehension. Creepy crawly things, shadows that are there and then gone, and anything dead toss our rational selves away and usher in the timid victim expecting the worst. These fears are what drives our Halloween List for 2017. In honor of the holiday, and the need to test trouble, we are offering ten tracks though there is no need to be afraid….they are only songs….or are they?
Click the Pix to listen and buy
01 Christine’s Tune (Devil in Disguise) – The Flying Burrito Brothers (from the album The Gilded Palace of Sin)
Two months after Gram Parsons left The Byrds, after ushering the group into Country Rock on Sweethearts of the Rodeo, co-founder Chris Hillman left the band, joining Gram in forming The Flying Burrito Brothers. “Christine’s Tune (Devil in Disguise)” was a co-write for Gram and Chris, and found itself the opening cut on The Burritos debut, Gilded Palace of Sin. Memory and myth tell that the Christine in question was a woman of questionable integrity who frequented The Palomino Club.
Listen and buy “Christine’s Tune (Devil in Disguise)” – The Flying Burrito Brothers on AMAZON
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02 The Lonliest Ghost in Town – Southern Culture on the Skids (from the album Mondo Zombie Boogaloo)
The Mondo Zombie Boogaloo gathered together bands for seasonal song. Three groups made up the musical soundtrack for compilation that included The Fleshtones and Los Straightjackets. For our list, Southern Culture on the Skids are representing the release with a sad song that will leave phantom tear stains the ectoplasm of “The Lonliest Ghost in Town”.
Listen and buy “The Lonliest Ghost in Town” by Southern Culture on the Skids on AMAZON
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03 The Witch – The White Buffalo (from the album Once Upon a Time in the West)
The melody for “The Witch” creates an edgy tempo for the story before The White Buffalo even begins the tale. School yard words cause the lead character in the tale to break pencils and rules as The White Buffalo tells a scary story from his Once Upon a Time in the West release.
Listen and buy “The Witch” by The White Buffalo on AMAZON
05 Honky Tonk Masquerade – Joe Ely (from the album Honky Tonk Masquerade)
The bodies spin around the dance floor as Joe Ely sees through the disguise, and peaks behind the mask. The title track from his release makes our list as Joe admits that ‘your eyes give you away’ for “Honky Tonk Masquerade”.
Listen and buy “Honky Tonk Masquerade’ by Joe Ely on AMAZON
07 Black Magic Woman – Fleetwood Mac (from the album The Pious Bird of Good Omen)
Once upon a time, Fleetwood Mac was a British Blues band. “Black Magic Woman”, written by bandmember Peter Green, was a 1968 single for the UK group. Santana made the song very popular two years later after Fleetwood Mac put their original version on single compilation albums releases as The Pious Bird of Good Omen in the UK and English Roses in the US.
Listen and buy “Black Magic Woman” by Fleetwood Mac on AMAZON
09 Dire Wolf – Grateful Dead (from the album Workingman’s Dead)
Heading up to the high timbers in the cold of winter, the Grateful Dead make the request of ‘don’t murder me’. Their plea goes unanswered and when the “Dire Wolf” appears at the window, he is invited in on a tune from the Grateful Dead release, Workingman’s Dead.
Listen and buy “Dire Wolf” by Grateful Dead on AMAZON
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04 The Witch Queen of New Orleans - Redbone (from the album Message from a Drum)
The pounding of drums begins the chant for Marie Leveau (1801 – 1881), a Creole woman who became the face of Voodoo practitioners for the French Quarter district of the Crescent City. For Redbone, the Fresno, California band crowned her “The Witch Queen of New Orleans”, immortalizing her memory, and her magic, in song.
Listen and buy “The Witch Queen of New Orleans” by Redbone on AMAZON
06 Devil in Disguise – J.J. Cale (from the album Anyway the Wind Blows - Anthology)
Using his branded Tulsa groove, J.J. Cale travels coast to coast with the Rock’n’Roll sound he put on the map. J.J. Cale is with the boys in the band and the “Devil in Disguise” as he takes the stage with his heathen music.
Listen and buy “Devil in Disguise” by J.J. Cale on AMAZON
08 Ghost Town Girl – Echo Sparks (from the album Ghost Town Girl)
SoCal’s Echo Sparks are asking for a dance of “Ghost Town Girl”. As spirits arise from lovers leap the trio play the title track from their 2016 release. California Country gets a Folk String band backing on the tune as Echo Sparks hope for the best in a potentially bad situation.
Listen and buy “Ghost Town Girl” by Echo Sparks on AMAZON
10 I’m the Woflman – Round Robin (from the album Haunted Halloween, Volume 3)
Thomas Baker Knight, Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He moved to Los Angeles and befriended Eddie Cochran and his girlfriend, songwriter Sharon Sheeley, who had written “Poor Little Fool” for Ricky Nelson. He began work as a songwriter and released his own music with a rockabilly backing as Baker Knight. For his 1965 single, Baker Knight became Round Robin to deliver the seasonal “I’m the Woflman”.
Listen and buy “I’m the Woflman” by Round Robin on AMAZON
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